Great Apes and Peaks Safari: Rwenzori to Kigali Journey

Following an early morning breakfast, you will be transported to the Kanyanchu Visitors Centre. There, you will meet an experienced ranger guide who will take you on a hike through the forest in search of a family of chimpanzees. Once you locate them, you will have the opportunity to spend an hour with them.

Afterward, you will return to the starting point to receive your trekking certificate.

Following this incredible experience, you'll be transferred to Rwenzori Mountains National Park in preparation for your hiking and trekking adventure in the Rwenzori Mountains. You'll spend the night at Trekkers Hostel.

Begin your journey at Trekkers, located at an elevation of 1,450 meters, and ascend to Sine Hut, which sits at 2,596 meters, resulting in a height gain of 1,146 meters.

The trek starts with a gradual ascent along the valley floor, surrounded by the towering trees of the Afro Montane Forest Zone. This steady climb offers opportunities to observe numerous bird species and the possibility of spotting blue monkeys darting through the foliage. Occasionally, you might encounter groups of 15 to 20 black and white Colobus monkeys as they swing through the treetops. Rare sightings of the L’Hoest monkey, a symbol of Bukonzo culture and protected by the local king, may occur, and you might also hear wild chimpanzees in the distance. The area boasts a rich diversity of plant life, including forest trees, bamboo thickets, low shrubs, flowers, fungi, and numerous moss and lichen-covered vines draping from the tall trees, creating a stunning landscape. Just 200 meters from Sine Hut are Enock’s Falls, providing a perfect opportunity for memorable photographs.

At Sine Camp, situated at 2,596 meters, you'll find wooden huts nestled among tall forest trees on a narrow ridge. Here, you can relax and appreciate the beauty of the Afro Montane forest while gazing at a magnificent waterfall cascading over the rocks below. Some visitors prefer to sit outside by the warmth of the campfire, engaging in conversations with guides about the mountains and local life. Sine Camp is located just below the bamboo zone, where a variety of bird species can be found. Enock Falls, only 150 meters from the camp, is surrounded by vibrant green vegetation and hanging vines—truly a sight to behold. You can spend the night at Sine, or for those in good shape who wish to continue, there's the option to hike to Kalama Camp at 3,134 meters. This route not only offers breathtaking views but also allows for more time at Mutinda Camp, where you can trek up to Mutinda Lookout at an elevation of 3,975 meters.

Following a hearty breakfast, trekking begins at 8:30 AM as you enter the Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone, where the trail features several switchbacks to ease the ascent. The surrounding atmosphere and forest are stunning as you ascend 551 meters over a distance of 2 kilometers to reach Kalalama Camp at an elevation of 3,147 meters, located in the Heather-Rapanea Zone. Here, you can take a break and enjoy a quick cup of tea or coffee before continuing on to Mutinda Camp. The trail is relatively straightforward, trekking the hillside before descending into the valley and then climbing again, crossing several small streams and passing near moss-covered waterfalls along the way.

You will steadily ascend beside a picturesque stream that cascades over mossy rocks beneath the Giant Heather trees, whose trunks are draped in green moss and lichen (Usnea) hanging from their branches. The path winds its way up the deep valley, flanked by towering cliffs, allowing you to explore a rich variety of plants and flowers, including the Giant Lobelia. This valley is distinctive, with numerous Giant Heather trees creating a lovely ambiance often enveloped in mist.

Mutinda Camp, situated near a small river and waterfall, provides an opportunity to wash up, refresh, and unwind. In the afternoon, you might consider hiking up to the Mutinda Lookout (a one to two-hour ascent and about an hour to descend). The views from the moss-covered rocks at 3,975 meters are breathtaking, offering views across the Rwenzori Mountains and down to Kasese town and Lake George. For those planning to climb Margherita or any of the main peaks, ascending Mutinda to 3,975 meters serves as an excellent acclimatization strategy to help mitigate the risk of altitude sickness at higher elevations.

Begin your day by navigating a rocky riverbed, followed by a lengthy stretch of bogs with some boardwalks, leading you to the top of a towering waterfall. Afterward, we take a right and ascend slightly before descending through Hunwick’s Pass, a newly established trail that winds between two high peaks known as Twin Peaks. Keep an eye out for the possibility of spotting a Hyrax or Red Diker, and you may also see various species of hawks and eagles nesting on the cliff faces.

As you reach the bottom, you'll cross a bog filled with lobelia plants, then continue through tall heather trees and large moss-covered rocks until you arrive at Kiharo Camp. Just 200 meters from the camp, you'll find Kiharo Falls, a stunning waterfall cascading down mossy rocks that is definitely worth a visit.

The path leading down the Nyamwamba Valley from Kiharo Camp is primarily downhill and offers breathtaking views. The river's moss-covered rocks, cascading waterfalls, deep valleys, and forests are among the most beautiful sights in the Rwenzori Mountains. It took six years to establish a route through this area that is accessible for tourists. In 1937, explorer and geologist McConnell attempted to navigate this valley but was unsuccessful and had to seek an alternative route up the mountain. Today, however, you can explore this stunning valley.

A few kilometers from Kiharo Camp, the trail veers right to follow the river. In open areas, you might spot a Duiker quietly grazing in small clearings as you walk alongside the water. Further down the river, the trail descends steeply with numerous switchbacks to make the journey easier. Along this stretch, there are constructed offshoots from the main path that allow you to get closer to the waterfalls, and you might even choose to take a refreshing swim. The first waterfall you encounter is Cathy’s Falls, which is particularly spectacular after heavy rainfall. Next is Nyamwamba Falls, which stands 52 meters tall and features a deep pool at its base for swimming. For the next 600 meters, the river cascades rapidly over a series of rapids leading to Ajarova Falls and Plozza Falls.

These waterfalls were first discovered in August 2020 by John Hunwick, who found himself exploring new areas during the initial COVID lockdown in the National Park. He named the third waterfall after his mother, Kathleen Plozza, in honor of his great-great-grandfather Antonio Plozza (1850–1923), who lived in the lower Poschavio valley on the Swiss-Italian border and had a passion for hiking and exploring mountains. Below Plozza Falls, additional waterfalls culminate in Bridal Falls, where water flows over a large flat rock, creating an effect reminiscent of a bride's veil.

As you approach the midpoint of these falls, you enter a bamboo zone that creates a magical atmosphere, with mist from the falls nourishing the moss-covered bamboo and evergreen grasses and herbs that sustain the Rwenzori Duiker. This area is known for sightings of Duikers and is also home to the elusive Rwenzori leopard, which is darker in color and found exclusively in the Rwenzori mountains.

The forest in this section is vibrant and teeming with life, featuring numerous birds, primates, duikers, and hyrax. Upon reaching Forest View Camp at an elevation of 2,580 meters above sea level, we pause for a well-deserved lunch and refreshments while enjoying views of the dense forest and the valley below, including Kilwembe township. This marks a wonderful experience and a fantastic conclusion to the trek before we continue on to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where we will spend the night at Bush Lodge or a similar accommodation.

After an early breakfast, you'll be transferred to Kasenyi for a game drive. The Kasenyi plains, known for their high concentration of prey, draw in predators, offering opportunities to spot some of the big cats found in Queen Elizabeth National Park during this thrilling adventure.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which links Lake Edward and Lake George. This two-hour boat safari will allow you to observe a variety of aquatic, semi-aquatic, terrestrial wildlife, and birds, making it a memorable day in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

You'll spend the night at Bush Lodge or a similar accommodation.

After a leisurely morning breakfast transfer to Bwindi Mgahinga Gorilla National Park a head of Uganda gorilla trekking adventure.

Overnight at Travelers Rest Hotel or similar.

Following an early breakfast, you'll head to the ranger station for a briefing on the guidelines for interacting with gorillas.

Then, accompanied by an experienced ranger guide, you'll trek into the forest to look for the gorillas. Once located, you'll have the opportunity to spend an hour with them.

After this memorable experience, you'll return to the lodge for the night at Travelers Rest Hotel or a similar accommodation.

Following an early breakfast, you'll be transferred to Ntebeko in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for a golden monkey trekking adventure.

After the trekking experience, you'll head to Kigali, Rwanda.

Spend the night at Hotel Des Melli Collines or a comparable accommodation.

Enjoy a relaxed morning breakfast before heading to the Kigali Genocide Museum to honor the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi.

Depending on your flight schedule, you will then be transferred to the airport for your departure, concluding your trip.